The Friend Ship
The Joemance continues for Joe Marler and Joe Wilkinson, as the celebrity duo take their odd couple friendship on the road, or rather the water.
The Friend Ship (w/t), produced by Zeppotron (a Banijay UK company), is a brand new 6 x 30 series that combines Joe Wilkinson’s passion for canals, Marler’s passion for fun and their shared passion for utter childlike silliness. The result? An unconventional and revealing boat trip along Britain’s waterways that celebrates the joy of connection, community and spending quality time with your mates.
After becoming firm friends on Celebrity Traitors, the Joes will be getting to know one another and properly put their friendship to the test in a (very) confined space.
Joe Wilkinson is whisking his brand-new buddy Joe Marler off on a break that will fulfil a lifelong dream: a barging adventure across the UK that finishes at the Falkirk Wheel – a masterpiece of engineering that connects two separate stretches of canal.
Along the way they’ll make various stops as they try to seek out fun wherever it may hide – North Wales, the West Country, Birmingham, the Pennines, London and Edinburgh – meeting groups of friends from all walks of life and settling into the pace of canal life.
This is a journey of discovery in more ways than one, that will see them navigate complex lock systems, cramped canal boat cabins, and the male loneliness epidemic – all while getting to know each other (and each other’s most irritating habits!) better than ever, as their new friendship is put to its greatest test yet.
Joe Wilkinson says: “I love canals, I love Joe Marler, I love drizzle. Making this show is absolute heaven for me.”
Joe Marler says: “I’m really excited to be spending an intense amount of time with my favourite hundy, Joe. Less looking forward to the claustrophobic canal boat he’s asked me to spend it on. But if we can get through that, I’m sure our bond will be stronger than ever. And if not, well, at least you know who your friends are.”
Patrick McMahon, Commissioning Editor, Factual at the BBC, comments: “The nation took Joe and Joe to their hearts as their friendship blossomed on Celebrity Traitors, so we’re delighted to offer BBC viewers the chance to see them take their relationship to the next level as they set off in search of fun, adventure and the Falkirk Wheel.”
Peter Holmes, Managing Director at Zeppotron, says: “If I had to choose two people to steer a narrow boat into a canal wall it would be Joe Wilkinson and Joe Marler. Here’s hoping their blossoming friendship can survive the perils of Britain’s beautiful waterways.”
The Friend Ship (w/t) was commissioned for BBC Two and iPlayer by Catherine Catton, in her capacity as Head of Commissioning for Factual Entertainment and Events. The commissioning editor is Patrick McMahon. The series is produced by Zeppotron (a Banijay UK company). The series producer is Kiera Spilsbury and the executive producer is Peter Holmes. The series director is Phil Ashton.
Filming has started and transmission details will be announced in due course.
